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According to reviews highlighted by The Daily Mail and The Hollywood Reporter, critics have applauded the film’s breathtaking scale, technical craftsmanship and star-studded ensemble. Yet amid the widespread acclaim, one recurring criticism has surfaced, with several reviewers questioning Tom Holland’s portrayal of Telemachus.
Tom Holland’s Performance Emerges as a Big Point of Debate
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, “The Odyssey” follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he struggles to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War, while his son Telemachus, portrayed by Holland, embarks on his own journey to uncover his father’s fate. The picture also stars Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton and Charlize Theron, and marks Nolan’s first feature shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm cameras.
Although many critics celebrated the production, Holland’s work drew repeated scrutiny. In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney praised the film’s ensemble and technical achievements but argued that “while he is always an appealing screen presence, [Holland] is wrong for the role.” Rooney also wrote that the actor “comes across as, well, Peter Parker in a tunic, sapping the gravitas from Telemachus’ path to maturity.”
Other reviewers reached similar conclusions. Financial Times critic Danny Leigh took issue with the contemporary dialogue, writing that Holland’s repeated use of the word “dad” pulled him out of the story, adding that the actor remains “comic-book basic.” Time’s Stephanie Zacharek described Holland as “so bland he’s practically unreadable,” while Inverse’s Hoai-Tran Bui offered a more measured assessment, writing that Telemachus “suffers from being just fine” in a cast filled with more commanding performances.
Outside of the criticism aimed at Holland, the reception has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The Guardian hailed the title’s “thrilling ambition, boldness, seriousness, generosity and flair,” while IGN called it “a must-watch cinematic experience.” Empire praised Nolan’s enormous scale and singled out Samantha Morton’s Circe as the filmmaker’s closest venture into full-on horror, and The Telegraph went even further, describing “The Odyssey” as “the best of the year so far.”
Together, the reviews suggest that while one casting choice has divided opinion, Nolan’s ambitious adaptation is arriving in theaters with extraordinary momentum.
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